This is the time of year when families are celebrating their respective holidays. Today marks the beginning of Hanukkah and we have been asking our Jewish friends for special ideas to celebrate.

We spoke to Jon Alexis, a regular contributor to craveDFW and owner of TJ’s Seafood Market for ideas and he said, “Your average Jew doesn’t go out for Hanukkah. It’s a gift giving holiday, but not a food holiday. Chinese food for Christmas is a bigger Jewish tradition in Dallas than anything for Hanukkah, but the culinary part of is potato latkes.”

Gio’s Café and New York Deli is offering a bit more than just your average latke, although you can buy their miniature version for $5 for a half dozen, or full sized for $2.25 a piece.

“We will be serving a four course Hanukkah menu in house as well as offering great items to go. We simply need twenty-four hours notice to have your order ready,” said Lisa Giannopoulos of Gio’s.

The catered four course menu includes mini cheese blintzes, matzo ball soup, a choice of entrees served with latkes, applesauce and mixed vegetables. The entrees that you can choose from includes brisket, salmon or chicken. The final course is a sufganiyot, or a special fried jelly donut. You can call in and pick up, or now purchase much of what you need through Artizone and have it delivered to your door.

We stopped in Gio’s today for no other reason than to have a pastrami sandwich and snap a few photos. While there we noticed that there are plenty of ala carte items to select from on the Gio’s menu. Whatever you choose, have a wonderful and happy Hanukkah from the staff at craveDFW.